Father banned from son's sentencing after heated comment

BRENTWOOD - The father of a man convicted of causing a fatal wreck in Derry will be barred from attending his son's sentencing because of comments he made to the victim's father moments after a jury announced the guilty verdict.

Cameron Dearborn, 19, is scheduled to be sentenced May 28 on two counts of negligent homicide for causing the fatal wreck that killed his friend, 17-year-old Korey Traficante in November 2010.

A jury convicted Dearborn on March 29 after a weeklong trial in Rockingham County Superior Court.

Moments after a judge revoked Dearborn's bail, his father, Robert Dearborn, exclaimed to the victim's father in court, "At least I'll get to see my son again (expletive)."

County prosecutors provided a recording of Dearborn's comments to a judge when making their request to ban him from the sentencing hearing.

"The state has grave concerns about safety in the courtroom and maintaining the dignity of the legal process for the victim's family," Assistant County Attorney Stephanie Johnson said in a court pleading.

Judge Marguerite Wageling approved the state's request on April 24 and later denied an argument by the defense to reconsider the decision.

Cameron Dearborn faces up to 7½ to 15 years in state prison for causing the crash while being intoxicated.

Prosecutors argued that Dearborn was drinking at his parents' home with friends on the night of Nov. 20, 2010, when he got behind the wheel of his friend's 1998 Saturn, with Traficante as his passenger.

Dearborn crashed the car in a ditch along Frost Road in Derry. The car flipped on its passenger side, striking a tree and rock wall.

The defense argued that evidence suggested Traficante was the driver.

Dearborn testified in his own defense, telling jurors that he had no memory of the crash.

"The last thing I remember I was sitting at the tables having a few beers," Dearborn testified.

A judge agreed with a request by prosecutors to revoke Dearborn's bail and order him held at the county jail for breaking his bail conditions last year. Dearborn was arrested by Danville police on June 2 for hosting an underage drinking party, according to Johnson. He ultimately pleaded no contest to a possession of marijuana charge as a result of that case. Prosecutors had asked for Dearborn's bail to be revoked after that arrest, but a judge let him remain free on $5,000 personal recognizance bail.

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